Homeland Security Federal Protective Service's Contract Guard Program Requires More Oversight and Reassessment of Use of Contract Guards

To accomplish its mission of protecting about 9,000 fed. facilities, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) has a budget of $1 billion, 1,225 full-time employees, and 15,000 contract security guards. This report assesses the challenges FPS faces in managing its guard contractors, overseeing guards deployed at fed. facilities, and the actions, if any, FPS has taken to address these challenges. To address these objectives, the report conducted site visits at 6 of FPS's 11 regions; interviewed FPS officials, guards, and contractors. It also conducted covert testing at 10 judgmentally selected level IV facilities in four cities. A level IV facility has over 450 employees and a high volume of public contact. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.